Tips to Becoming a Personal Care Attendant

PCA courses are essential if you intend to become a personal care attendant. It is important to get adequate information regarding training and certification so you can establish a career in this field effectively. Get started by finding the right training organization.

Duties of a personal care attendant

As a personal care attendant, you are committed to providing basic support to elderly people or those with chronic diseases. Such people may be in certified facilities such as nursing homes, palliative care centers, or in their homes. Caregivers are usually employed by various organizations or home health agencies to work under assigned supervisors and managers.

For someone to become a personal care attendant, the person must attain 18 years of age, have at least a high school diploma, hold a valid driving license, and have a phone contact. Ability to work independently, trustworthiness, and good health are also necessary.

In addition to relevant PCA courses, the following steps are necessary:

Get to know the career duties involved

Being a personal care attendant requires that you undertake certain activities. The first step is to conduct a research and know the duties that you will perform. Here are just a few examples:

Housecleaning

Laundry

Personal hygiene

Transport

Some elderly clients will require a full-time attendant while others will just require part time support. As a personal attendant, you will keep detailed reports of the condition and progress of the patient. This may include how they eat, drink, and socialize. You will be reporting to your assigned manager if you notice anything strange.

Find a relevant training program

In addition to high school diploma, formal training will help you carry out your duties effectively. Many times, it is possible to train on the job. Once you identify a reliable training organization, you can register for an entry-level course and equip yourself with the necessary skills. Reliable training organizations exist to provide you with the relevant certificate and diploma PCA courses, which lead you to the next step. Check Sage Aged Care for more details.

Get a Relevant Certificate

Formal training in personal care attendant involves courses such as CPR, first aid, medical terminologies, health insurance portability and more. You can choose to specialize in a certain area of the field. However, the bottom line is to find a reliable training organization with the right facilities and staff to provide adequate training.

Find Employment

With the growing number of elderly people, you can secure employment in public and private organizations, such as hospitals or home care facilities. Alternatively, you can operate as an independent caregiver after obtaining the right qualifications. Check local newspapers and websites of various organizations for possible job openings.

Grow your career

It is possible to advance your qualifications to the highest possible level. For example, many organizations offer certificate, diploma, and even degree programs. In Australia, you can consult reliable providers such as Sage Institute of Aged Care. Advancing your career helps you gain access to more opportunities and responsibilities that may not be possible with just basic qualifications.